Opinions on a 04/05 BMW 320d

[Ayrton Senna]

I have never had a BMW before so I am a total novice when it comes to buying a used one. Therefore, I was wondering if you guys had any opinions on the reliability, running costs and performance of a 2004/5 BMW 320d? I they considerably more expensive to service/maintain when compared to say a VW golf diesel?

A quick google search revealed that there are issues with the swirl flaps, and this does sound concerning to me. I dont want to pay 6-7k for the car and then be faced with engine problems.

My other option is to buy a Seat Leon TDI 150 cupra, but BMW obviously has a bit more prestige.
I need a diesel because I do about 20k a year on motorways.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

[sinizter]

I don't think they are any more expensive to maintain than a Golf or similar.

Their service intervals are quite long. 14-15k or more.

[Ranger 6]

I had a MkIV Golf Tdi which was on 10k service intervals (£200ish). The BMW 2.0d I had at the same time was on roughly 18k service intervals (£250ish - dash indicator dependent on use). The bills from BMW were larger at the time, but spread over the miles it was actually much cheaper to run.

Swirl flaps were removed at the same time as replacement glow-plugs were fitted - £300 for the lot. Be aware on the VAG engines that cambelts can be an expense.

As to which one to buy.... I'm on my 5th BMW, I only had one MkIV

edit: should've said - 2 of the BMWs were 320d, one of the others was an X3 2.0d - about 100k use in all.

[ThunderSpook]

I had an 05 E46 320d Saloon, bought it with circa 96k on the clock and sold it with 116k on the clock. Only thing I had to have done to it was a suspension bush. Had no problems with the engine or turbo or swirl flaps. It's worth noting that cars over 5 years old attract a 50% discount on labour rates at BMW and it was just as cheap getting it serviced there as a local independent.

[Zachlain]

So all in all the 320d seems like a good choice then.
I will most likely pay the £100 pounds it typically costs to have the swirl pot removed for peace of mind if I decide to buy one.

I will start looking for some low mileage 04/05 cars and see how I get on.

PS: I am the OP but i have changed my name, as some people said its creepy to have the name of a deceased famous person, and I agree with that.

[essexplumber]

Zachlain said:

PS: I am the OP but i have changed my name, as some people said its creepy to have the name of a deceased famous person, and I agree with that.

Extremely. Do you go about with a cut out of his face from a poster covering your face?

[Zachlain]

essexplumber said:

Extremely. Do you go about with a cut out of his face from a poster covering your face?

Thankfully I take my pills each morning so have never done this!

[80quattro]

Not sure if the OP is referring to E46 or E90 models, as 04/05 covers both?

I have an 04 320d 6-speed 150 bhp, now showing 155,000 miles with original swirl flaps installed. Great car, economical, nice to drive, and no big bills as yet. I anticipate keeping it for quite some time and will probably replace it with an E90.

[Zachlain]

80quattro said:

Not sure if the OP is referring to E46 or E90 models, as 04/05 covers both?

I have an 04 320d 6-speed 150 bhp, now showing 155,000 miles with original swirl flaps installed. Great car, economical, nice to drive, and no big bills as yet. I anticipate keeping it for quite some time and will probably replace it with an E90.

Thanks for the info mate.
What is the main differnces between the E46 or E90 models?
For example I was thinking of going to view this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-3-SERIES-320d-S...

[MondeoMan1981]

Mmmmmm E46, one of my favourite flavours of BMW, along with E39.

I will have another E46 when funds permit !

Buy with history, remove swirl flaps. Check the heater/blower works if its the electronic one rather than the one with knobs on.

[80quattro]

Zachlain said:

80quattro said:

Not sure if the OP is referring to E46 or E90 models, as 04/05 covers both?

I have an 04 320d 6-speed 150 bhp, now showing 155,000 miles with original swirl flaps installed. Great car, economical, nice to drive, and no big bills as yet. I anticipate keeping it for quite some time and will probably replace it with an E90.

Thanks for the info mate.
What is the main differnces between the E46 or E90 models?
For example I was thinking of going to view this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-3-SERIES-320d-S...

E46 is 1999-2006, E9x is 2005-2011 with cabs and coupes overlapping on years. Late E46 is 150bhp 6-speed, and early E46 is 163bhp 6-speed. Later 07 on E9x 320d efficient dynamics models are 177bhp (my old '07 320d e.d. broke down on the M1 with 2,500 miles on the clock, grrr). Its been said before on PH that facelifted E46's (2003 on) are better built than early E9x's. In my experience, I'd be inclined to agree.

That car on Ebay looks wayyy expensive, but low mileage Sport models are a massive premium over an ES or SE.

[Mr Pies]

Can someone just quickly tell me what all this 'swirl flap' business is about?

[Sump]

Mr Pies said:

Can someone just quickly tell me what all this 'swirl flap' business is about?

www.swirlflaps.co.uk

[redlancer]

Hi,

Had my 320d sport estate manual (12/2004) for 2 1/2 years, bought it with 100k on the clock and now has 160k. Do a lot of short kid trips, motorway and carry my mountain bikes (proper Thule rack) on the back weekly
Changed anti roll bar bushes and 1 injector.
Injector was circa £250, bushes £30.
If all injectors went it would be expensive, which could be any desiel car.
headlight washers are bust so it does leak the washer fluid away and at £200 a pop i just have to keeep on top off the fluid. Will get around to blanking them off. It only leaks if the
This is a common fault - just try the washers by putting the lights on and cleaning the screen this is when they start to leak. You can see the leak in the engine bay.

Swirl flaps still in place but mine is the later model so has the thicker ones and better turbo. So I'd go for latest model you can as a lot of the common problems seem to be fixed.
I did clean out the EGR which was a couple of hours work and replaced the vortex when i 1st got it, this helps turbo life.

Car feels like new to drive, solid and steering has so much feel, reminds me of my old cossie.
Drives great and so so much better then my Audi A4 3.0 quattro.
uses about 1 litre of oil between 20k services.

My next daily commute will be another BMW, very impressed. Great car to drive and keep forgetting its an estate.

Leather front seat was worn on the sides when i got it but as its a sports one this is common.
Rest of car stands up to 2 kids, dog and mountain biking.

[Zachlain]

80quattro said:

E46 is 1999-2006, E9x is 2005-2011 with cabs and coupes overlapping on years. Late E46 is 150bhp 6-speed, and early E46 is 163bhp 6-speed. Later 07 on E9x 320d efficient dynamics models are 177bhp (my old '07 320d e.d. broke down on the M1 with 2,500 miles on the clock, grrr). Its been said before on PH that facelifted E46's (2003 on) are better built than early E9x's. In my experience, I'd be inclined to agree.

That car on Ebay looks wayyy expensive, but low mileage Sport models are a massive premium over an ES or SE.

Hi mate,
Thanks very much for that information.
I am a novice regarding prices too. I am just seeing whats on Autotrader really, but the M Sport one in ebay link does look like a car I could justify spending 6.5k on, because it is low mileage, FSH, and is loaded with the extras. Also being a 04, it should come under that bracket of 'better build than and early e90' - which is a plus side.

I think I prefer the shape of the E46 and the economy of the 150bhp engine, which means i will be looking at cars between 04-06.

Edited by Zachlain on Tuesday 31st January 12:25

[Zachlain]

redlancer said:

Hi,

Had my 320d sport estate manual (12/2004) for 2 1/2 years, bought it with 100k on the clock and now has 160k. Do a lot of short kid trips, motorway and carry my mountain bikes (proper Thule rack) on the back weekly
Changed anti roll bar bushes and 1 injector.
Injector was circa £250, bushes £30.
If all injectors went it would be expensive, which could be any desiel car.
headlight washers are bust so it does leak the washer fluid away and at £200 a pop i just have to keeep on top off the fluid. Will get around to blanking them off. It only leaks if the
This is a common fault - just try the washers by putting the lights on and cleaning the screen this is when they start to leak. You can see the leak in the engine bay.

Swirl flaps still in place but mine is the later model so has the thicker ones and better turbo. So I'd go for latest model you can as a lot of the common problems seem to be fixed.
I did clean out the EGR which was a couple of hours work and replaced the vortex when i 1st got it, this helps turbo life.

Car feels like new to drive, solid and steering has so much feel, reminds me of my old cossie.
Drives great and so so much better then my Audi A4 3.0 quattro.
uses about 1 litre of oil between 20k services.

My next daily commute will be another BMW, very impressed. Great car to drive and keep forgetting its an estate.

Leather front seat was worn on the sides when i got it but as its a sports one this is common.
Rest of car stands up to 2 kids, dog and mountain biking.

Thanks very much for a detailed and informative post bud - this will really help me out. I think I will definately be going for a 320d then, just got to find the right one at the right price...

[Rob Crutch]

sinizter said:

I don't think they are any more expensive to maintain than a Golf or similar.

Their service intervals are quite long. 14-15k or more.

I've been running mine for about 18 months now, bought at 47k from Dick Lovett in Hungerford and now on 98k, apart from a couple of minor items (parking sensors failed but replaced under warranty and some other sensor on the drive train which again, although not expensive was replaced under warranty) I've had no issues with the car.

I do mainly motorway miles but am seeing around 20k between services (mine's on varibale servicing), so far I've found BMW service to be very good and well priced with the reduced labour rates on older cars thing they do.

Somehow I've also managed to get 50k from the front tyres the car came with, they were as new when I got the car, and I've got to replace them soon... but 50k seems amazingly good, first set of rears lasted about 20 - 25k from memory. My car is an auto and gives around 45mpg most of the time, bit less at the moment with winter fuel and will show over 60mpg on a long run although the trip computer is a little optimistic so it's never quite as good as the car suggests.

All in I love my car, it's not that fast but it is comfy, it's a sport so I think looks pretty good, it goes round corners pretty well and its pretty good on fuel - not spectactular at anyone thing but very good at everything so I can't find a reason to replace it

[DanielJames]

I'm selling mine, had all the common faults addressed (swirl flaps blanked off etc)

Link to readers ride thread

[Zachlain]

DanielJames said:

I'm selling mine, had all the common faults addressed (swirl flaps blanked off etc)

Link to readers ride thread

Hi mate can you PM some more details including price.
In particular whether it has FSH, number of owners, mileage etc.
Thanks

[Zachlain]

I was wondering if this Msport diesel with 117,000 miles is reasonably priced than the one in the earlier link I posted:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-MODEL-54-PLATE-BMW-...

Obviously, i will be putting in an offer lower than the advertised price. The car looks immaculate, but the 117,000 miles seems to be the off-putting thing, as I would add 20k miles each year should I get the car.